As a parent, you dream of giving your child every chance to thrive, and attending an early learning service (preschool) before they start kindergarten is one of the most powerful gifts you can offer. It is more than preparing for the first day of school. In a nurturing early learning environment, children blossom with confidence, discover the joy of friendship and begin to make sense of the world around them. These early experiences not only shape their school years, but they also lay the foundation for a lifetime of growth, resilience and opportunity.
“Government Preschool isn’t the only path to early learning. Families have different needs, and quality early childhood services are just as valuable in supporting children before they start school.”
Here’s something many families don’t realise: your child doesn’t have to attend a government preschool to access a preschool program. At YWCA Canberra Early Childhood Services, our long day care centres deliver the same approved Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), led by qualified early childhood teachers.
Every one of our services has Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) registered with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI). This means that your child is guided by experienced professionals who meet the same standards as school-based teachers, but within a full-day environment that offers flexibility for busy families.
Parents often feel pressure to choose government preschools, yet both options support children’s learning and school readiness. The difference is that early education and care services such as those at YWCA Canberra provide longer hours, making it easier for families to balance work and home life while ensuring children thrive.
And the research is clear. According to the 2024 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), children who attend a preschool program are far less likely to be developmentally vulnerable when starting school. Those with access to a quality early learning service were nearly twice as likely to be on track in key areas like language development, social skills and emotional wellbeing.
Across Australia, 93.3% of children attend a preschool program in the year before school. In the ACT, that figure jumps to 97.3%, showing just how strongly families here value early learning and preschool access.
At YWCA Canberra, we know preschool is about so much more than ABCs and 123s. Our educators help children build confidence, resilience, emotional regulation, and the skills needed to form friendships, cope with challenges, and step into the school classroom ready to succeed. By nurturing these foundations early, we give children the best possible start, both for school and for life. We’d love to welcome you into our community. Book a visit to one of our YWCA Canberra centres today and discover how we’ll prepare your child for school and beyond.